Investigation of the ocean backscatter during high wind events. II. Analyses and revised high wind backscatter models

For pt.I see ibid., p.2311-13 (1998). A series of airborne scatterometer experiments designed to collect C- and Ku-band ocean backscatter data in regions of high ocean surface winds has recently been completed. Over 100 hours of data were collected using the University of Massachusetts´ C- and Ku-band scatterometers, CSCAT and KUSCAT. The authors´ results demonstrate limitations of the current empirical models that relate ocean backscatter to the near surface wind at high-wind speeds. The scatterometer data is collocated with measurements from ocean data buoys and GPS dropsondes, and a Fourier analysis is performed as a function of wind regime. This revised model is the basis for a discussion of the NRCS at high wind speeds. Their scatterometer data shows a clear over prediction of the derived NRCS response to high winds based on the CMOD4, SASSII and NSCAT1 models. Furthermore, saturation of the NRCS response begins to occur above 20 m·s^-1